Safeguarding Information

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Safeguarding Children and Young People from Harm or Neglect

All staff who work at Ash Green Primary School and all regular visitors/parent volunteers/visiting teachers are committed to safeguarding children and young people and to protecting them from harm or neglect. All staff and visitors must have a criminal conviction (DBS) check and the school maintains comprehensive records of these checks.

All staff in school must, every three years, receive statutory training on child protection. In addition to this, safeguarding remains a constant priority across the school. Regular updates are provided annually, with further refresher training taking place throughout the year to ensure all staff remain vigilant and up to date with current guidance and procedures. Safeguarding is a standing item in weekly staff meetings, allowing for ongoing discussion, updates and reinforcement of key messages. Continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities are shared across the school to strengthen knowledge and practice. We are committed to ensuring that safeguarding is understood as everyone’s responsibility, with all staff playing an active role in keeping children safe.

Our designated child protection officers are:

Jodie Cope (Head Teacher and Designated Safeguarding Officer)
Alice Worthington (Deputy Head Teacher and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer)
Charlotte Bishop (Assistant Head Teacher and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer)
Jacqui Jarvie (SENDCo and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer)
Nina Kessel (Home/School Link Worker and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer)

If you are worried about a child or young person and think they may be the victim of neglect or abuse is 01782 235100 (Stoke on Trent Safeguarding Children Board).

The following documents will provide you with additional information:

Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Safeguarding Statement

Child on Child Abuse Policy

Children Missing Education

Keeping Children Safe in Education (Statutory Guidance)

Working Together to Safeguard Children

Operation Encompass Poster

Operation Encompass – Letter to Parents

For more information about how we safeguard children against radicalisation, please click here to visit our Prevent Strategy page.

Safeguarding Newsletters

Child‑on‑Child Abuse: Our Approach and Responsibilities

Child‑on‑child abuse can happen in any setting where children spend time, including online spaces and areas outside school. Because it is not always visible, it is essential that staff are trained to recognise the signs early and know how to respond in a way that keeps children safe.

Schools follow detailed Department for Education guidance on responding to sexual harassment and sexual violence, which builds on the statutory requirements in Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE). All staff at Ash Green are trained in this guidance and understand how to apply it in practice. Our policies make clear that child‑on‑child abuse will never be accepted, minimised or dismissed as “children being children”.

Staff know how to report concerns, who to speak to, and what action to take to ensure children are protected.

What Do We Mean by Child‑on‑Child Abuse?

Child‑on‑child abuse refers to situations where one child causes harm to another. It can take many forms, including:

Bullying (including cyberbullying, prejudice‑based and discriminatory bullying)
Physical abuse such as hitting, kicking, shaking, biting or hair pulling (including online elements that encourage or facilitate harm)
Emotional abuse, both on and offline
Abuse in intimate relationships between peers
Sexual violence and sexual harassment
Causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent
Upskirting
Sharing of nude or semi‑nude images or videos (consensual or non‑consensual)
Initiation or hazing activities involving harassment, humiliation or abuse

These definitions are set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education.

Child‑on‑Child Sexual Abuse

Child‑on‑child sexual abuse can include:

Abuse within intimate personal relationships
Upskirting
Consensual or non‑consensual sharing of nude or semi‑nude images
Causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent, such as forcing them to strip, touch themselves or engage in sexual activity with someone else

Sexual Violence

Sexual violence includes:

Rape
Assault by penetration
Sexual assault (intentional sexual touching)

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment refers to unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. This may include:

Sexual comments, jokes or taunting
Physical behaviour, including interfering with clothing
Online harassment, including unwanted images or messages

How We Train and Support Staff

All staff maintain an attitude of “it could happen here”. They challenge inappropriate behaviour early to prevent escalation and take all reports seriously.

Training is regularly updated and ensures staff understand:

Their role in preventing child‑on‑child abuse
How to recognise signs and indicators of abuse
How to respond to concerns or disclosures
How to support both victims and alleged perpetrators
The specific risks associated with online abuse
That abuse can happen inside and outside school

Staff understand that even if no cases have been reported, this does not mean it is not happening.

Reporting Concerns

Any concerns or allegations of child‑on‑child abuse are managed in line with our Safeguarding Policy and reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead. We act quickly to ensure children are safe and supported.

How Our Curriculum Supports Safeguarding

Our PSHE and RSE curriculum teaches children, in an age‑appropriate and inclusive way, about:

Healthy and respectful relationships
Consent
Equality and stereotypes
Body confidence and self‑esteem
Prejudice and discrimination
Sexual harassment and sexual violence
Cyber‑bullying
Sexting
Peer pressure

We also use high‑quality resources such as NSPCC materials and the Speak Out Stay Safe programme.

Helping Children Feel Confident to Report Concerns

We have clear, child‑friendly systems to help pupils report worries or concerns. These include:

Worry boxes
Child‑friendly safeguarding posters
A highly visible Safeguarding and Wellbeing Team

Children know they will be listened to, taken seriously and supported. They also understand how reports are handled and who they can talk to if they are worried about themselves or a friend.

Working with External Partners

Child‑on‑child abuse can be linked to factors outside school. We consider the wider context of children’s lives and work closely with external agencies when needed, including:

Local safeguarding partners
Community organisations
Specialist services such as the NSPCC

This helps us understand the challenges children may face and ensures they receive the right support.

Our Commitment

We are committed to creating a safe, respectful and supportive environment where all children feel able to speak up, seek help and know they will be protected. Preventing and responding to child‑on‑child abuse is a whole‑school responsibility, and we take this duty extremely seriously.